Fire-extinguisher.



C. D ALLAN. FIRE EXTIHGUISHERK APPLICATIGH EILED NOV.9. 1914.

1,1 3 g8a Patented Apr. '3, 1915.

1:233 wfiom it may concern: Be known time 1, CHARLES L: ALLAN, a cit-ices o1 EilQ- United EJt-etes, and s resiocnt Chicago in the county of Cook and State 'opens our} water is admitted to the sprinkler of? 'iilinoisi have inventeii e certain new and will limorovemens in Fire-E2; lnguishers, i :Cll time following is e specification,

s invention relates to fire extingiiishers seal relates perticuierly to valves for cor ljlOlli "the scimission of water to automatic egzrir or systems of the type known as drypipe' valves (lee form of dry-pipe valve which has been to :1 very large extent, is what is known as Eiirferentisl valve iniwhich a relatively smeil Water orimission opening is closee by a valve is secureci in closed position against :1 reiotively high WfiiQl' oressere in tile other source of supl of water iiniler pressure by a relatively orge air valve which is exposed to uniisle eed relatively low air pressure in the sprinkier system. As heretofore constructerl, the operation of valves of this type has been objeefionable because, when the valve system such Water Wili form a Water column, the pressure of which acting on the reiseiveiy lfif 6 air valve, with the Weight of the wives ivnifumler certain conditions. cause said veil-es to become reseatcd and will preventreopening thereof until the svsiem has been iireined. This isknown as columning and is such a serious objection that it has been found necessary to provide supplementary mechanical means for its prevension, "and various cievices for this purpose have been designed and pzitented, but seem to have met Withonly inclifierent success.

The primary object of the presenfi invention is to provide a construction for a drypipe valve of the difierential type whereby columning will be prevented.

Further objects of the invention are to provide clry-pipe valve which will be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture es compared with any dry-pipe valve of which I have any present knowled e; and which will be effective and reliable or its designed propose,

To effect the foregoing objects, a dry-pipe valve of my invention comprises the various features, combinations of features and (leteiis of construction hereinafter described and claimed. I

in the accompanying drawing in which is e Eeteii cezi Am, e, E915.

- 191%. Serial Ko.3?07$.

my invention is fully illustretecL i i :2 central vertical, sectional vie v ive embodying my 1oveiition valves shown closed in mi; lines in open position 111 dotted lines. Fig. 2 is i; snrl Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view from the position of Fig. 2.

notes the valve casing wl1ich,or convenience and economy of manufacture is made in two A and PE, and which are deiacileblv con- Zl'eClCi by means oicap screws or the like 111- ziected emis of said cs rig sections.

At its lower end the casing i 35 provide;

adapted to be connected to Wiifii' main or other source of supply of water under pres vidccl with a discharge opening 2 which is adapted to be connected Wit-ii a sprinkier pipe l sectional plan view on the line 21- 2- of rig.

Referring now to she (ii-swings, A clesig sepazste sections ciesigsstecl, respectively,

sorted through flanges formed on ihc 9031- with :1 water admission opening-1 which is sure at its upper end, saicl casin is prosystem.

Surroumling the water admission opening A tight joint between the valve seats 3 and 5 can readily be formed by grinding the same together with emery powder or the like, in the familiar manner. and, in order so centralize the valve seat 5 relstivelv to the valve seat 3 when the valve 4 is subjected to oressure, in the manner presentiy fie scribed, the valve seats 3 and 5 are correspondingly inclined or beveled. Also, limited play is orefcrablv provided in the valve hinge in order that the valve seat on said valve may accommodate or adjust itself to the valve seat 3 so as to insure a tight joint.

in the preferable construction shown the valve seat is formed at the upper end of what may be appropriately termed a nipple the casing A. Preferably, siso said nipble 6 is :necle separate from the valve casing A and is bolted or otherwise detachably connected thereto, thus making provision for finishing, assembling and fitting said nipple 6 and valve 4 as separate operations before they are placed into the casing A, and also for detaching and removing the same 1n case it becomes necessaryat any time to regrind the valve seats 3 and 5. T i

As shown, the valve 4 is lunged to a boss 7 formed on the upper end of theznipple 6 by means of a yoke 8, bolted or otherwise detachably connected to the valve 4, formed on which are bosses 9, said bosses 7 and 9 being provided with alined bearings forthe hinge pin 10, and the bearing in one thereof being fitted loosely to provide for limited-play of said valve 4 to permit the valve on to seat itself accurately upon the valve seat 3. With the described construction, it is obvious that, by disconnecting the yoke 8 from the valve 4, said valve will be free to turn on its longitudinal axis, thus providing for conveniently grinding. the valve'seats 3 I and 5 together.

Y hollow, aluminum The nipple 6 is made of suchheight that the valve 4 may be, turned practically through 180 degrees, into the position shown in dotted-dines, Fig. 1, with its upper end resting against the lower end wall of the casingA.

For reasons presently explained, the outer surface of the valve 4 is made substantially conoidal, the relation being such that the distance from the axis of the hinge pin 10 to the top of said valve 4 will exceed the distance from the axis of said hinge pin to any other part of said valve.

In operation, the valve 4 is-adapted to be maintained closed against the force of the water pressure in the main or'other source.

of supply of water, by means of a differential air valve which, in use, is subjected to the air pressure in the sprinkler system, and, a rigidpart of which is adapted to bear upon the valve 4 when in closed position, the relation being such that the normal air pressure on' said air valve will maintain the valve 4 closed against-the water pressure to which it is subjected. While my invention contemplates the use of any suitable'air valve for thus securing said valv closed, I prefer the form of valve shown in drawings, which for purposes of convenieiit'nef- "erence is designated, as'a whole B, and

which I will now describe. Formed on the interior of the casing A is a flange a, bolted or otherwise secured to which isa ring 11 provided with a valve seat 12. The movable member of said air valve comprises a float 13, which preferably consists of an air-tight, sphere.

said float 13 is a flange 14, the outside diameter of which is slightly less than the inside diameter of the ring 11, and secured thereto we. flat ring of suitable flexible material, as

seat15 there- 'usual lock-nut 17.

Formed around.

rubber, leather or the like, and whichextends outwardlyover the valve seat 12 and,

in operation, is adaptedto be held in close contact with said valve seat by the air pres"-r sure in the sprinkler system. Secured 1n thefloat 13 and extending downwardly therefrom is a rod-or valve stem 15, the lower end of which is adaptedto bear on thetop of the valve 4, said valve stem being preferably connected to said float in suchmanner that it may be adjusted to extend a reater or less distance below said float. s shown, said valve stem is made separate from-said float and is secured in screw threaded en-- gagement with a hole formed in a boss 16 on said float and is adapted to be secured in Y different adjusted The movable member 13 of the air valve is guided in its operative movement and maintained in operative position, by a hearing in a fixed boss 18 to which the valve stem 15 is fitted so as tobe freely movable endwi'se. in position by downwardly curved arms 19 which connect said boss .withthe ring 11.

Formed on the valve stem 15 is a head20 contact of which with the lower end of the boss 18 is adapted to limit the movement of the air valve B above its seat, while theupper end of the boss 18 is so positioned posltions therein by a .As shown, said boss 18 is secured i that, when the lower end of the valve stem 15 rests on the valve .4, when in 'closed position, the lock-nut 17 will be only a slight distance above the upper end of said boss, say about t; of an inch, thus lintitini the downward movement of the movab'leair'l valve member .By flattening the sides f of the head 20 so that it may be conveniently graspedby a wrench, convenient means are the valve stem IIIlJO boss 16 and for v times that of the inside diameter of the admission opening, 1, a desirable relation in practice being about 4 to 1, so that the area of the air valve exposed in the chamber A and which is subjected to the air pressure in the sprinkler system will be more than twelvetimes the area of'the water admission opening 1. It is thusobvious that a relatively -very small air pressure in the sprinkler system will hold the valve 4 closed which is in opens sprinkler system,

against the water pressure in the water main or other source of water supply. When the dry-pipe valve is set for operalie i s l1 z-esizioii 3%.

ail iii 11, llQYffiiEI, one cnkier system opens,

cii

are

'l cause bothva ve and the air valve B to epen, thus permitting like water to flow has ly tlireugh the easing A iroin the Water main other source oi Weler supply into the pipes of the iippeient that illfi the rimi sisn he valve 4:

sprinkler s stem. is llkillfiil 0 Water iiiieug i 1, will epeiete i0 1' tlie eii val 6 iii (lattes i V 11 said valve 4: will be eniirely water way mil in stable epeii ilisfi QCClSlGRiL-fll reseatiiig tliersef impossible, and lhe curing thmugh valve ease li'uoyiiiicy at" the float l5 wil 0 msintzziii' il'ie float 0; air valve in pesitien, is? rea- {if w slieulci be we 0 :5 eeing;eraril thus producing an unlaalanee celumii ii the spriiililsr system, the buoyancy 0f the 3021*; wou d pmvant reseaiieg of the air valve Ass heretofore siateal sen. the sum) y ilie valve #2, when be reset or i'eseated for films resetting a, f e valve casing A. which is i'eseaimg sea-cl Ya provided with a closed by a rememble in use, my 7 LID v to mp the valve is green: ti llisisnce from the axis of snill I was? of t e valve, it is old-vi ii ilie has raised a suiilci to mi the upper anal 0i 5 engagement witli said i'ofl is of saicl i'ave will swing lower 'emi of said red es said 9 (meals, l elaiiii: 1. In a zlrypipe valve the cemliinatipn nf a casing Pl '\'l(ll with lll'li'lllSSlOll and. {lis- (:liarge openings, 2 -eii'e wispiel ems- 1011 opening, means or mov- 32' said minus j supperting said. valve filler v 8i entering the casm all o=*gl1 epeiiir-g tiiei'ete I move stable QPE-Zl gesitimi a] cliil saicl liereiitl valve 3- i'igicl part of which is air a iapl'recl telear on fine valve appliecl t0 the on epeiiing 5:0 saiil easing, and m ans saia air val-re,

stlapte i is bear on the valve applied to the admission epening :0 said casing, ezms fur guiling the mo ementof said air valve, nngl 2 fleet zippliefl is said air valve for impure iiig bue miie thereto, substantially as described.

3. In lrypipe valve, the eemliinafiionef a casing provided with admission and discharge openin s, a nipple which surrounds saicl admission opening within said casing 51 valve hinged to said nipple 11ml adapted fer closing the cpen eml thereof, the relation being suel that Water under pressure enieiing said casing through said nipple will turn said valve into stable open p05 lien, 11 (lilierential air valve a rigid part of which is Hd'aT tH l to bear on the valve hinged to said iiieple, 21ml means for guiding the movement of said air valve, substantially valve the combination of idecl with admirsion and {11S- eiiarg'e opeinngs, a nipple which surrounds am zicliiussin epeiiing Wiihin said casing; a valve hinged to said nipple and aclap'teri for closing the epeil end thereof the-relation sing such that Water under pressure entereasing tiers-ugh said nipple will valve into stable epen pos'tion, a air Valve a i'iiii pariof which j he aive lii to sale cliil'erei is iulapie on t nipple mee ling the ITIO'VBIHQEL!) 0 said a. 0 i applied to said sir valve for imparting bueyaney iliereio, siil'isi'sntially as IlQSCIll'lE) In a ivy-pipe valve, the cembiiiation of a casing prei'iderl with admission 21ml (lishawe epeiiings, a a

(ieiaeli ble nipple which mrmuns admission opening within saicl casing valve hinged te said nipple adapted. closing the open end thereef, the els-tie i31 such that water under pressure entering saicl easing tliicngh saicl nipple w ll turn said valve into stnrle open position. a difi'erentinlair valve a rigid part of which is adapieii to bear on the valve said nipple, and means for guidiovement of said air Valve, substanis described. 7

In drypipe valve, the cembination of easing previclecl with admission anal dis- 6' of, the relation being such that Water under A charge openings, a detachable nipplewhiclz'" surrounds said admission opening withinsaid casing, a valve hinged to said nipple and adapted for closing the open end therepressure entering said casing through said ,nipple will. turn said valve into stable open position, a diflerential air valve a rigid part of which is adalpted to bear on the valve hinge to said nipple, means for guiding the movement of said air 'valve, and a float applied to said .air valve for imparting buoyancy thereto, substantiallyas described.

7 In a dry-pipe valve, the combination of a casing providedwith admission and discharge openings a detachabl nipple which surrounds said admission open ng within said casing, a valve hinged to said nipple I adapted for closing the open end of said. ni

ple, said hinge comprising a hinge plate etachably connected tq said valve, whereby said valve may be disconnected fmm said' nipple and turned axially relatively thereto .towprovide for grinding the valve seats on said nipple and valve together, a differential air valve a rigid part of which is adapted to bear on the valve hinged to said nipple, and

' means for guiding the movement'of said air valve, substantially as described.

8. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination of a casing provided with admission and dis-' 7 charge openings, a detachable nipple which surrounds said admission opening within said casing, a valvehinged to said nipple adapted for closing the open end of said nipple, the valve seats on said nipple and valve being correspondingly inclined and 'the hinge oint being loosely fitted to provide for limited play of said valve and said hinge comprising a hinge plate detachablyconnected to said valve, whereby said valve may be disconnected from said nipple and turned axially relatively thereto to provide for grinding the valve seats on said nipple and valve together, a differential air valve a rigid part of which is adapted to bear, on

the-valve applied to the admission opening to said casing, and means for guiding the movement of said air valve, substantially as described.

9. In a dnyspipe valve, the combination of l a casing provided with admission gand dischargeopenings, a valve adapted for closing presence of two subscribing witnesses this 5th day of November,19l4.

' CHARLES D. ALLAN.

Witnesses: v ALEX. D. KING, Jr., A. H. GUNGGOLL. 

